Is that a kelp forest growing in Glorietta Bay Park, in front of City of Coronado Club Room and Boathouse? No! It’s an Urban Tree!
Sea Level, a mostly copper sculpture created by City College student Kim Ogburn for the 2010 Urban Trees exhibition along San Diego’s Embarcadero, depicts a kelp forest and the native marine life it sustains. Colorful fish swim beneath the imagined water; birds thrive on the surface above. Read an article concerning this amazing artwork’s creation here.
Sea Level was installed in front of the Boathouse at 1985 Strand Way in 2012. It is part of the City of Coronado Public Art Collection. I happened upon it during my latest walk in Coronado.
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A sculpture was recently installed at the Museum of Us in Balboa Park. You can see the new artwork when crossing the Cabrillo Bridge, about to enter the west archway of the California Quadrangle. Look up toward the second floor’s outdoor balcony!
The sculpture is titled The Economy of the Absurd. It was created by Marcos Ramírez ERRE, an artist from the Tijuana and San Diego region who has created large-scale public works since the 1990s. It’s part of the newly opened Museum of Us exhibition Race: Power, Resistance & Change.
The museum’s About the Exhibit page explains: The exhibition Race: Power, Resistance & Change shares stories of how the construction of race has shaped laws, institutions, and daily life in San Diego and the broader multinational region.
As a plaque on the balcony near The Economy of the Absurd explains: This sculpture is composed of hand tools, assembled into a rising form within a steel frame that resembles the local U.S. Mexico border wall.
A number of other plaques are also located on the balcony, including one featuring the poem Refund by past San Diego Poet Laureate Paola Capó-Garcia. It is all part of the overall exhibition.
When I spied the new sculpture yesterday while walking through Balboa Park, I had to go check it out!
Here I am proceeding out onto the Museum of Us balcony…
(Photographs of views from the balcony before installation of this exhibit can be found by clicking here.)
Visitors are encouraged to contribute to a digital map. The map is of cultural centers and programs across San Diego’s diverse communities. You can participate by clicking here!
Imagine my excitement when I found that one of the plaques, concerning the public mural in Lemon Grove of the “Lemon Grove Incident,” features two photographs that I took for Cool San Diego Sights and a mention of my website!
Finally, here’s the short poem Refund…
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If you’re a NASCAR fan, you probably know that very special races are coming in 2026 to Naval Air Station North Island in Coronado. But did you know an equally special NASCAR exhibit recently opened at the San Diego Automotive Museum in Balboa Park?
The exhibition is titled NASCAR: Design and Innovation. A bunch of incredible vehicles are on display in the museum, just in time for the coming races across San Diego Bay!
I visited the Automotive Museum today and was blown away. Not only can you peer into a variety of different race cars, but you can learn about the evolution of NASCAR racing, including advances in vehicle design and technology.
A large part of the exhibition celebrates old Cajon Speedway, and remembers those who raced stock cars in San Diego’s East County years ago, from the oval track’s opening in 1961 until it closed in 2004.
I personally started paying attention to NASCAR a while back because seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmy Johnson grew up in El Cajon. Perusing the exhibit, I noticed a reference or two to his legendary career.
The coming street races at NAS North Island will celebrate the United States Navy’s 250th anniversary. The event, running from June 19 to 21, 2026, will feature a 3.4-mile, 16-turn circuit with unique features like “Carrier Corner,” where racing occurs between two docked aircraft carriers! The big weekend will include races for the Truck Series, Xfinity Series, and the NASCAR Cup Series.
Should be exciting!
A few photos from my museum visit today…
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Balboa Park’s new Botanical Building Pergola is rapidly rising!
Three weeks ago I noticed the beginnings of construction. This newly created pergola, which will stand near the west end of the Botanical Building, recreates one of twelve pergolas that were originally in Balboa Park during the 1915 Panama-California Exposition.
You can see my previous photographs and learn more about the project by clicking here. Now compare!
Nearby, workers are continuing to install the Central Gardens that will surround the Botanical Building.
I must say the pergola structure appears larger–longer and taller–than I imagined it would be.
When finished, the shady, restful Botanical Building Pergola should be another beautiful and practical landmark in Balboa Park!
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Perhaps you’ve driven through Gate One while arriving at or departing from Liberty Station. It’s the old Navy base entrance at the northeast end of Liberty Station, where Lytton Street and Barnett Avenue meet.
You might have noticed plaques on the two old guard buildings.
Curiosity getting the best of me, the last time I was in the neighborhood I walked around both historical buildings for a closer look.
Gate One was the main entrance to Naval Training Center San Diego, and the grassy area with an anchor behind it is Sellers Plaza. As this webpage explains: Named for the base’s first commander, Sellers Plaza serves as the Naval Training Center’s front door.
You can see Gate One in the center of this postcard:
Image courtesy Libery Station.
Here are photographs I recently took in front of Gate One…
Identical plaques are mounted to the front of both buildings near the arch. The steel arch was added in 1932.
I’m now standing by Building 20. There across the road is Building 21.
The plaques summarize the history of the San Diego Naval Training Station, which opened in 1923 and was finally decommissioned in 1997. Over 1.75 million sailor recruits would receive training here.
Now I’ve walked behind Building 20…
A plaque by the door to Building 20 identifies it as Gatehouse #1, constructed 1923.
Dodging a car or two, I’m now behind Building 21…
The rear of both buildings feature these beautiful tile fountains.
A plaque by the door of Building 21 identifies it as the Pass/Decal Office, constructed 1922.
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If you’d like to see San Diego through my lens, find the “Follow” box in the sidebar to receive new posts in your email, or bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
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Today the first ever House of Somalia lawn program was held among the International Cottages in Balboa Park. It was a big, fun cultural celebration!
The House of Somalia is a new member of the House of Pacific Relations International Cottages. They are the first nation in the group to represent Africa!
The House of Somalia’s first annual lawn program brought out a good crowd. People happily mingled while enjoying a variety of food, goods, crafts, and very lively entertainment up on the stage.
Representatives from the Somali Museum of Minnesota and their troupe of Traditional Dancers came all the way to San Diego to participate in the celebration. I was interested to learn the Somali Museum of Minnesota is North America’s only Somali-focused museum.
Beginning around 2 pm, after some short speeches, including glowing words by WorldBeat Center founder Makeda Cheatom, the dancers took the stage.
The dancers began by performing the Dhaanto, which mimics the movements of a camel. Many other folk dances would follow, all of which were very expressive. I believe the one with much spinning was the Jaandheer. You had to be there to experience the energy and sense of joy.
It was an outstanding inaugural lawn program for the House of Somalia!
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If you’d like to see San Diego through my lens, find the “Follow” box in the sidebar to receive new posts in your email, or bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
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In Coronado, Lifeguard Tower 1B on the beach of Glorietta Bay Park honors a hometown hero. A plaque on the tower is In Loving Memory of Justin Allen Meek.
I noticed the plaque during a walk. Wanting to learn more about Justin Allen Meek, I found this article.
Justin, who grew up in Coronado, not only became a lifeguard, but he lived a remarkable life. He was a hero in many respects to those in Coronado and beyond. There were numerous accomplishments. He became an Eagle Scout at a young age. Through the years he actively worked to help the community in a wide variety of ways. He wanted to unselfishly serve others.
Tragically, he perished at age 23 while trying to protect others during a mass shooting at Borderline Bar and Grill in Thousand Oaks.
If you’d like to see this plaque for yourself, walk down toward the water at Glorietta Bay Park in Coronado, then pause on the sand at the lifeguard tower.
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The gallery is filled with so many different types of silk art, I was truly surprised when I visited today. I saw wall hangings, quilted pieces, wearables, silk collages… All very colorful!
There are over 35 members of the San Diego Silk Guild (a chapter of Silk Painters International), so it isn’t surprising that many forms and styles of silk art are on display. Most pieces can also be purchased.
One of the friendly artists, Natalie Ilarraza, was present this afternoon and provided an explanation of different silk painting techniques. Step inside the gallery and prepare to be wowed!
The free exhibition continues in Gallery 21 through November 30th, 2025. Hours are 11 am to 4 pm.
A few examples:
Cherry Blossom, by Jeanette Amen. Gutta resist and acid dyes on 18 mm habotai silk.Garden Wall, by Karen Malin. Botanical print on silk, quilted, silk covered buttons.Betty Boom, by Karen Anderson. Silk dyes on 8 mm habotai silk.
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I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.
One week to Thanksgiving and a little more than a month until Christmas. The year has flown by and the holidays are almost upon us!
Walking around San Diego the past few days, I’ve noticed that preparations are well underway for the Holiday Season.
Santas and Christmas trees are popping up. Signs and banners around downtown anticipate festive events. Balboa Park is beginning to ready for December Nights…
JOY has returned to the Broadway Pier.Jingle Jets begins on the flight deck of the USS Midway on November 28.Seaport Village is decked out for the holidays.Alamo Flags is ready for Thanksgiving and Christmas.Holiday programming is coming up at the Rady Shell, including Noel Noel.Happy Holidays and Season’s Greetings banners in the Gaslamp Quarter.Santa Claus is riding a motorcycle at the Hard Rock Hotel.Mannequin in Gaslamp shop is dressed for a Christmas party.Museum of Illusions has a Christmas tree and fun North Pole photo op!Santa and reindeer are practicing landings in Balboa Park.Celebrate the holidays with local artists at Balboa Park’s Spanish Village.The San Diego Civic Youth Ballet will perform The Nutcracker in December.Getting the Balboa Park Miniature Railroad ready for the holidays!
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I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.
I spotted this beautiful mural during my last walk in Oceanside. It decorates a wall on San Diego Street, between Lemon Street and Dubuque Street, about a block away from Balderamma Park.
The side of the wall that faces an alley depicts the Virgin of Guadalupe among prickly pear and other cacti. It also appears to be a neighborhood shrine. People have left fresh flowers.
The other side, facing San Diego Street, has been painted with colorful scenes, so full of life.
I couldn’t ascertain who the artist is. If you have any information, leave a comment.
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I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.
Cool San Diego Sights! 